Our client is an iconic, family-owned Australian manufacturer with over 60 years of history producing a well-known consumer product. Operating from a purpose-built facility in Western Sydney, the business employs approximately 250 staff and produces at significant volume through a national distribution network. The business is stable, growth-oriented, and investing in its leadership team for the long term.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, the Operations Manager carries full accountability for end-to-end operations across the business - including P&L performance, lean transformation, and people leadership across seven direct report functions: Production Assembly, Production Supply, Quality, Inventory & Warehouse, Procurement, Maintenance, and Safety & Environment.
This is a retirement backfill. You are inheriting a functioning operation and are expected to raise it - building a stronger supervisory and leadership layer, driving measurable improvement across safety, quality, speed, cost and talent, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement that outlasts any one initiative.
The site runs a single shift: 7am to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday, 7am to 1pm Friday.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end operations, owning P&L performance and budget accountability across all functions
- Drive daily performance through robust KPIs, tiered accountability, and disciplined execution
- Champion lean transformation - 5S, Kaizen, standardised work, waste elimination - across the full site
- Build and develop the supervisory and team leader layer; act as a master coach to your direct reports
- Oversee supply chain resilience, procurement, inventory management, and inbound/outbound logistics
- Partner with the CEO on automation, facility investment, and strategic operational roadmaps
- Build and sustain a genuine safety culture where every leader owns safe behaviours and outcomes
- Drive cultural transformation - accountability, empowerment, and continuous learning at every level
- 10+ years of progressive operations leadership in a labour-heavy, low automation manufacturing environment. This is a more manual manufacturing process, without a lot of automation.
- Demonstrated success delivering lean transformation at a manufacturing site level.
- Proven P&L accountability and commercial acumen across a multi-function operation
- Strong background across supply chain, quality systems, and CI methodologies
- Track record of cultural transformation - not just process improvement
- A genuine coach - you develop supervisors, build accountability, and elevate the layer beneath you
- Qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field
- Direct CEO report with full operational scope and genuine authority
- SLT seat in a stable, family-owned business with six decades of history
- Lean transformation mandate with the licence to build something lasting
- Competitive remuneration package - details provided on application
- Western Sydney location (Penrith corridor)
To apply online, please apply through the appropriate job board link. For a confidential discussion, please contact Orrin Huang at ohuang@sharpandcarter.com.au or on +61 425 201 109.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/orrinhuang/
